Types of French Bulldogs: A Dog Lovers Guide

Dog

The adorable, recessed noses and large pointy ears of French Bulldogs make for a charming face. When you combine those features with a robust little body and a feisty demeanor, you can’t go wrong with this dog as a pet.

Over time, many breeders have experimented with producing these dogs in various color combinations, meaning there are quite a few types of French bulldogs now.

So if you’re looking to adopt one of these cute and cuddly little friends, let’s now explore everything you need to know about the various types of French bulldogs!

Brindle French Bulldog

Brindle is a typical French Bulldog color, and its aesthetic is made up of a dark coat of fur combined with light strands.

It is one of the most common Bulldog colors and can be seen on many other Bull and Mastiff breeds. The Agouti gene produces its coloring. It does this by regulating the distribution of black pigment.

Tiger Brindle French Bulldog

This is a variant of the natural brindle coloring seen on French Bulldogs.

The tiger brindle pattern has more detailed stripes than the average brindle. And because this type of brindle coloring is rare, these dogs can carry a pretty high price tag.

White French Bulldog

Certain genetic combinations give Frenchies their white coloring. They are off-white and are often mistaken for a piebald. The lips, nose, and eyes of a true white French Bulldog will have dark pigmentation.

Some people have suggested that albinism may cause white coloring. Yet, albino genetics is one of the lesser reasons for their complexion.

For some of these dogs, their whiteness may also indicate deafness, especially if they have pink around the lips, eyes, and nose areas.

Fawn French Bulldog

The fawn French Bulldog is very symmetrical and considered beautiful by many. The color of traditional fawns ranges from cream to nearly yellow.

In some instances, there might be a reddish cast with this type. Also, the fawn-colored French Bulldog is usually accompanied by a black area around the face – although this is not always the case.

Plus, they almost look a little like baby French Bulldogs when compared to other types.

Pied French Bulldog

When a dog has a pied pattern, it is often white or eggshell-colored with dark patches. The pattern causes their patches around the eyes or ears, which gives them a distinct appearance.

Unfortunately, as breeders play around with this rare type of dog, health issues can occur. Skin allergies, food allergies, and brachycephalic syndrome are all common in them.

Lilac French Bulldog

Due to the unique gene specifications for French Bulldogs, lilac-colored Frenchies are extremely rare.

If you ever find one, they will almost certainly be more expensive than the average French Bulldog. Both parents would have chocolate and blue genes, which are unusual colors for these dogs to possess.

Pure Black French Bulldog

The AKC has a set of disqualification colors that include pure black for French Bulldogs.

Nevertheless, seeing this exquisite coat on a French Bulldog is no less stunning. A recessive black gene is responsible for the hue, and their eyes are typically sapphire or dark chocolate.

Also, to call a dog pure black, there must be no sign of brindle in the dog’s coat.

Chocolate French Bulldog

Both parents must have the recessive chocolate gene to achieve a chocolate hue. As well, the eyes of a true chocolate French Bulldog are usually light and intense, with gold, purple, and green tones.

The chocolate French Bulldog is a rare coat breed. This is because it has to have a recessive gene that they inherit from both parents.

Cream French Bulldog

A recessive dilution gene in the fawn coloring causes the cream coat to appear.

Cream Frenchies have pure cream all over their bodies when they are born. They do grow black patches around their noses, eyes, and mouths as they get older, though.

Sable French Bulldog

Sable is a lovely color that is similar to fawn but with its own variation. These dogs have a light tan coloring that can span towards to dark reddish-brown coat with black hairs on the tips.

The majority of sables have black or dark masks and are uniform in color over their bodies.

Blue Sable

The coloration of a Blue Sable French Bulldog is similar to that of a sable. However, instead of being dark, their hair tips are blue. As a result, the overall coat has a bluish tint over its fawn coats.

It’s a lovely and uncommon color. To get this coat, both parents must have the blue recessive gene.

Merle

A Merle is very sought after in today’s French Bulldogs. Yet, as beautiful as this pattern is, it isn’t a color accepted officially for the breed.

The AKC does not acknowledge this color because it is considered new. Also, it is most likely that Frenchies do not bear this gene, implying that breeders bred a dog with it at some stage.

Blue

Blues may look super-cute, but they are also not considered French Bull Dogs by the AKC. The reason officials don’t accept this dog is that it has alopecia, which they see as a flaw in the breed.

Yet, nothing has stopped dog owners from adopted these little pointy-eared companions.

Isabella

Isabella is probably the rarest color in French Bulldogs.

One question many people ask is do French Bulldogs shed?

Well, with a link to alopecia, dogs with this coloring are considered unhealthier than normal Frenchies. And this is true of many other dogs with unusual colors.

Isabella’s color is a product of breeding dogs with the black DD gene. It gives the already blue or chocolate coat a delicate pale purplish tone.

You might be wondering how much are French Bulldogs of this type? Well, some Isbellas are sold in the tens of thousands of dollars range!

We should also mention that a great accompaniment for your new pet is a dog harness for French Bulldog. With a quality harness, you’ll be able to show off your Isabella or other types of Frenchie with style and safety.

Types of French Bulldogs Revealed

We’ve now looked at 14 different types of French Bulldogs. Although technically, not all of them are acknowledged by the AKC to be part of the breed.

If you want to get a French Bulldog, a good tip is to check the costs involved with particular types. As we’ve mentioned, some can be very expensive.

Thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to take a look at some of our other informative blog posts.

Types of French Bulldogs: A Dog Lovers Guide

Tim Hanson (116)

Contributing writer at Preferable Pups!